With a challenging but successful season of competition behind them, the Prince Albert Skating Club is planning to have a little fun.
Club members were on the ice Wednesday evening preparing for their annual year-end show at the Art Hauser Centre on March 15.
Skating Club head coach Carla Jenkins said members take the performance seriously, even though the competitive year is over.
“Now we are just down to business,” Jenkins said with a smile. “It’s all ice show, all day.”
The March 15th show will feature skaters from the club’s nine programs. The ages range from age three all the way to adult.
Jenkins said every skater works hard during the season, and the year-end show is the payoff.
“They’re come such a long way since day one and they want to show off for their family and friends,” she explained.
Ice dance skaters Reinard Lotz (left) and Mia Schutte (right) prepare for the Prince Albet Skating Club’s annual year-end show on March 15. The annual show comes at the end of a challenging, but successful, competitive season.
The March 15th show will also feature a former Skating Club member who has moved on to the national ranks. Prince Albert product Stefan Lotz, who now skates out of Regina with his new pairs partner, will be among the year-end show performers.
Jenkins said seeing local talents like Lotz return to Prince Albert after being on the national stage is a big motivator for the club.
“It wows the audience, but especially the young skaters who are just making their way up and starting to get involved with our sport,” she said. “It’s exciting what you can do with a small town in Saskatchewan and where you can go if you put your work in and really love our sport.”
Prince Albert Skating Club members ended the season with a pair of major competitions. Roughly 20 skaters competed at the final provincial competition of the season in Swift Current, and four others competed recently at the Saskatchewan Winter Games.
Skate club member Kole Boyko was one of those four skaters who represented the Lakeland District at the Saskatchewan games. Boyko said it was a great experience, but now he’s looking forward to the year-end show.
“I’m nervous, but excited,” he said. “I’m excited so other people can watch us and see what we’ve done all year.”
This year’s show is a tropical-themed production called Summer PAradICE. Boyko was among the skaters on the ice Wednesday practicing jumps, spins, and turns for the group performance.
This isn’t his first time taking part in the show, but that hasn’t dulled his excitement level.
“It’s just fun to do every year,” he said.
The Prince Albert Skating Club year-end show takes place on March 15 at the Art Hauser Centre. Admission is by donation. Show time is 2 p.m.
@kerr_jas • jason.kerr@paherald.sk.ca
